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I look down uneasily, unable to lie to my brother. “Thanks for covering for me. I really appreciate that.”

“You’re welcome,” he says. “Mom doesn’t need to know where it came from, but I do.”

“Zac…”

“I’m on your side, Holly. I love you. But don’t start shutting me out.”

I straighten my shoulders and look my brother in the eye. “I got the car from Tyler.”

He looks at me quizzically; then a flash of recognition lights up his face.

“TylerGrace?” he asks.

I nod. “Yes.”

“Is that where you’ve been spending your time?”

I nod again. “Yes. I help him in his workshop. And I told you Poppy lives there, so I get to see him.”

He lets out a low whistle. “Holly…”

“He’s my friend, Zac. He’s good to me. He understands me.”

“He’s not right in the head, Hols. I know he saved you but—”

I refuse to listen to the “buts.” “You’re wrong. Those are just horrible rumors. He’s smart, and sweet, and caring. He saves animals, and he bought me blankets. He taught me to drive and got me this car. We talk and text for hours, we read together, we go for walks, and drink bubble tea—”

“Oh shit, Holly. You sound like you’re in love with him… Are you?”

His question rocks me.Am I?I know I can’t wait to see him every day, and he makes me happier than I’ve ever felt, and I want to make him just as happy, if not more. I love it when he holds me and kisses me, and I’m seriously worried about possibly moving to New York and wondering how I’m going to cope with missing him so much.

“I don’t know, Zac. I’m just trying to figure out who I am, and where I belong, and what I want. But Idoknow that, no matter what, I want him to be a part of it. I don’t know how to label how I feel.”

“I understand all that, but wouldn’t it be better for you to be with someone who doesn’t remind you of your past?”

“Tyler doesn’t remind me of my past. He’s helping me learn to deal with it. He makes me feel better.”

“And how can he do that when he’s not dealing with his own past? He won’t even go out in public.”

“I know that… but I think that will change in time. He’s getting better, just like I am. We’re helping each other. We do better together. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?”

Zac leans against the car. “I was hoping you’d have a fresh start in New York. What are you going to do about him?”

“I’m not sure yet. We can visit each other, right? He could come see me?”

“Well, yeah, but is he going to do that? I don’t want to sound like Mom… but I really don’t like the idea of you driving all the way here from New York to see him.”

“I have no idea. We haven’t really talked about it. I don’t know how to think that far ahead.”

His head hangs down as he absorbs all this; then he slowlylooks up. “Okay. It’s your life,” he finally says. “No matter what, I’m here for you. So is Anna. We want you to be happy and be with someone who will care for you, and love you. Just be careful. Tyler was a great guy when he was younger… but a lot’s happened to him. He’s got a lot of issues… I don’t want you to end up with a broken heart.”

I text Tyler from the end of my street after I leave my parents’ house.

Can I come over to see Poppy?

Tyler

Of course. He was just telling me he misses you ;-)

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